Sukta 11
Sukta 4.11
Vāmadeva Gautama (traditional attribution for RV 4.11)
Agni
Jagati or Trishtubh (uncertain from single verse; confirm by metrical scan of the whole sukta)
अग्निं प्रति षडृचोऽयं सूक्तः तस्य दीप्तिमत्सन्निधिं स्तौति—दिवा सूर्यवत् प्रकाशमानं, रात्रावपि न क्षीयमाणं—तं च प्रत्यक्षं बलं पोषकं रक्षकं च आह्वयति। अग्निं जयबलस्य, समृद्धेः, शीघ्रवेगस्य च स्रोतसम् इति मन्यते। अन्ते पापं हिंसां दुष्टसङ्कल्पं च अपहन्तुं, स्वस्तिं च स्थापयितुं रक्षार्थं प्रार्थयते।
Mantras
Mantra 1
भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकमुपाक आ रोचते सूर्यस्य । रुशद्दृशे ददृशे नक्तया चिदरूक्षितं दृश आ रूपे अन्नम् ॥
अग्ने सहसिन्, ते भद्रमनीकं सूर्यस्येव उपाक् आ रोचते। नक्तायामपि रुशद्दृशे ददृशे; अरूक्षितं सत् रूपे आ दृश्यते—सत्तायाः सत्यं अन्नं पोषणम्।
Mantra 2
वि षाह्यग्ने गृणते मनीषां खं वेपसा तुविजात स्तवानः । विश्वेभिर्यद्वावनः शुक्र देवैस्तन्नो रास्व सुमहो भूरि मन्म ॥
वि षाह्यग्ने गृणते मनीषां; खं वेपसा तुविजात स्तवानः। विश्वेभिर्यद्वावनः शुक्र देवैस्तन्नो रास्व सुमहो भूरि मन्म॥
Mantra 3
त्वदग्ने काव्या त्वन्मनीषास्त्वदुक्था जायन्ते राध्यानि । त्वदेति द्रविणं वीरपेशा इत्थाधिये दाशुषे मर्त्याय ॥
त्वदग्ने काव्या त्वन्मनीषास्त्वदुक्था जायन्ते राध्यानि। त्वदेति द्रविणं वीरपेशा इत्थाधिये दाशुषे मर्त्याय॥
Mantra 4
त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥
त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः। त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतॊ मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा॥
Mantra 5
त्वामग्ने प्रथमं देवयन्तो देवं मर्ता अमृत मन्द्रजिह्वम् । द्वेषोयुतमा विवासन्ति धीभिर्दमूनसं गृहपतिममूरम् ॥
त्वामग्ने प्रथमे देवयन्तो मर्त्या देवं अमृत मन्द्रजिह्वम् उपयन्ति प्रज्वालयन्ति च। धियाभिस्त्वां निवासयन्ति—द्वेषोयुतं निवारयन्तं दमूनसं गृहपतिममूरम्, अन्तर्गृहं ऋतेन नयन्तम्।
Mantra 6
आरे अस्मदमतिमारे अंह आरे विश्वां दुर्मतिं यन्निपासि । दोषा शिवः सहसः सूनो अग्ने यं देव आ चित्सचसे स्वस्ति ॥
आरे अस्मदतिम् आरे अंह आरे विश्वां दुर्मतिं यन्निपासि—दूरं नय। दोषा शिवः सहसः सूनो अग्ने भव; यं देवाः अपि स्वस्त्यै आचित्सचसे।
Inside Sukta 11
How it unfolds
- Where it opens
Agni’s auspicious, sunlike radiance is hailed as near and visible—shining even through night.
- Development
Agni is affirmed as the generative source of victorious force, wealth, and swift forward-driving energy that supports life and ritual success.
- Climax
A direct apotropaic prayer: Agni is asked to repel crooked thought, sin, and all ill-intent because he restrains and guards against them.
- Where it settles
Agni is invoked as benignant at night, the ‘son of force,’ approached even by the gods for svasti—settling the hymn in protection and well-being.
The deity: Agni
- In the VedaAgni is the bright, gracious-faced flame, kindled by humans and approached even by the gods; he is seen like the Sun and yet shines through the night, guarding and restraining harmful forces.
- Cosmic functionMediator between humans and gods, carrier of offerings, establisher of order in the sacrifice, and protective power that repels evil and brings prosperity, victory, and well-being.
- Inner significanceThe awakened inner fire—clarity, will, and discernment—that transforms thought, burns away crooked intention, and sustains the soul with true ‘nourishment’ (anna) as luminous consciousness.
The seer
- Vāmadeva GautamaGautama gotra (Vāmadeva of the Gautamas) · A major Rigvedic seer of Mandala 4, celebrated for profound Agni hymns that unite outer ritual fire with inner illumination and protection.
Famous verses
भद्रं ते अग्ने सहसिन्ननीकम् (bhadraṃ te agne sahasinn anīkam)त्वद्वाजी वाजम्भरो विहाया अभिष्टिकृज्जायते सत्यशुष्मः । त्वद्रयिर्देवजूतो मयोभुस्त्वदाशुर्जूजुवाँ अग्ने अर्वा ॥आरे अस्मदमतिम् (āre asmad amatim)Attributes of the deity
- Sahasīn (mighty in force)
- Radiant, sunlike brilliance
- Night-protector and guardian
- Bestower of wealth (rayi) and bliss (mayobhu)
- Giver of victorious help (abhiṣṭi)
- Swift, urging energy (āśu)
Also by this seer
- Primary authorship/traditional attribution of many hymns in Rig Veda Mandala 4 (notably Agni-centered sūktas)
- Associated in tradition with the Vāmadeva lineage of seers and their sacrificial-poetic innovations in praise of Agni and allied deities
The rite, step by step
- Prepare the altar (vedi) and arrange kindling (samidh) with ritual purity.
- Kindle Agni and establish a steady flame while reciting opening praise of his radiant ‘face’ (anīka).
- Offer ghee into the fire with short invocations, acknowledging Agni as the source of strength, wealth, and victorious aid.
- Recite the protective petition asking Agni to drive far sin, constriction, and perverse intention, especially for night-guardianship.
- Conclude with a svasti-oriented closing: mentally place the rite under Agni’s guardianship and dedicate merit to household and community well-being.
Offerings
- Ghee (ājya)
- Kindling sticks (samidh)
- Optional grain/oblations (anna/havis) according to household custom
Frequently Asked Questions
It praises Agni as a radiant, sunlike power that nourishes life, brings strength and prosperity, and protects the worshipper—especially by driving away wrong thinking and harm.
Because Agni is not only the daytime brilliance of the sacrifice but also the guardian in darkness; the hymn asks him to be benignant at night and keep dangers and negative impulses away.
It can be recited during a simple lamp or fire offering with ghee, especially in the evening, as a prayer for clarity of mind, removal of harmful tendencies, and overall well-being (svasti).
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